Mechanism for stacking packages



Dec. 6, 1932.'

c. F. WRIGHT 1,889,846 MEGHANISM FOR sTAcKING PAcKAGEs .Filed Aug.' 25.1951 l 4 sheets-sheet il.

Dec. 5 1932. c. F. WRRGHT MEGHANISM FOR STACKING PACKAGES r .Fled Aug.25. 1951` .4 sheets-,Smet 2 Q www in (j l E i ,i ,v M W o Dec. 6, 1932.

cfr-1 WRIGHT MECHANISM FQR STACKING PACKAGES 4sheets-sneet 3 Filed- Aug.25. 1951 Dec. 6, 1932, c. F. WRIGHT 178399846 l MECHANISM FOR STACKINGPACKAGESI Filed Aug. 25. 1931 4 Sheets-*Sheet l4 figg.

Parellad Dye.- 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT ,or-lllcrfzV cHARLRs F.WRIGHT, or AKRON, OHIO, 4AssIeNoR 'ro THE DIAMOND MArcn COMPANY, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION or MARYLAND MECHANISM FOR STACKINGPACKAGES Application led August-25, 1931. Serial No. 559,164.

The object of this invention is. to provide a machine of simple andefficient construction and operation for stacking and arranging packagesof matches or other articles in operations, which machine is especially,

though not exclusively, designed for use in connection with or as anattachment for a machine from which wrapped packages are successivelydelivered.

With this object in View my invention embodies features of novelty andcombinations of parts which in a preferred form will be hereinafterdescribed; the scope of the-invention then being expressed in thefollowing claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying myinvention, showing the package lifter arms in raised position at thecompletion of a package stacking operation.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan, enlarged, of the machine, the lifter armsbeing shown in down or 1package receiving position. 1

g. 3 is a transverse vertical section ina plane through the forward,ends of the lifter arms, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section, as on the une 4.-4 of Fig. 2, showing theconveyer, the

drive mechanism therefor, and adjuncts.

Fig. 5 isa longitudinal vertical section of the machine, as on the line54-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.

5 of a portion of the receiving end of the stacking L table, the lifterarms and switch control devices therefor, together with stop devices foradvancing packages, the said parts being shown in their respectivepositions during the initial upward movement of the lifter Fig. 7 is alongitudinal `vertical section.'

of a lifter actuating cam and clutch mecha- I nism therefor, as on theline 7-n-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. Sis'a Vtransverse vertical section, as on the line8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section through the its support.

switch A and Figi 10 is a transverse section through tlie switc as onthe line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, 15 designates a frame structure upon which issupported a horizontal bed or table 16 having at its receiving end adownwardly curved portion 17 which overhangs the delivery end of theupper horizontal run of an endless belt conveyer 18. This conveyer issupported and guided by pulleys 19, 20, whereof the shafts 21 have theirbearings in suitably-disposed` brackets 22v on the frame structure. Theupper run of the conveyer is also guided `and sustained by alongitudinally extending bed 23 which is supported by bridge members 24on the frame structure. The shaft 21 of the pulley-20 at the deliveryend of the conveyer to impel the conveyer continuously in the directionindicated by the adjacent arrow. (Fig. 5.) In the present instance theshaft 28 is operatively connected through suitable sprocket and chaingearing 30 with an elecso tric motor 31.

The packages (P) to b assembled are sucy cessively placed upon the upperrun of the conveyer 18 and are carried ,thereby in more or less closerelation `toward the curved portion 17 of the table 16. Preferably thecon- 85 veyer is arranged to receive the packages as they are dischargedfrom a wrapping machine of any usual or approved construction, a dryertrunk as 32, being interposed between the wrapping machine and the'conveyer in order to ensure the\drying of the adhesive on thewrappers'before the packages pass to the conveyer.

The widthA of the conveyer 18 is less than the length of the packagesimposed thereon,

so that the ends vof the packages projectbeyopd the respectivelongitudinal edges of the f Parallel guide rails 33 for the row ofpackages on. the conveyer are supported adjacent the respective sides ofthe'conveyer by means of suitably-disposed brackets 34, and means, suchas a continuously driven feed wheel 35, for advancing each succeedingpackage at the receivingend of the conveyor is preferably provided,which wheel frictionally coacts with the tops of the adjacent boxes. Theshaft 36 of this wheel has its bearings in brackets 37 on the guiderails and has fast thereon ya sheave 38 which is connected `b abelt 39with a sheave 40 fast onthe sha t of the pulley 20 at the delivery endof the conveyer.

A shoe 41 extends above the row of packages and insures their orderlyarrangement on the conveyer as they approach the curved end of thetable, which shoe is supported by a bridge bracket 42 securedto therespective guide rails.

Extending adjacent the respective sides of the delivery end of theconveyer and forwardly of the curved end portion of the table are a pairof lifter arms 43 which are connect ed by a sleeve 441ooseon across-shaft 45 that is fixed in suitably-disposed brackets 46 on thesupporting. structure. These lifter arms when they are in horizontalposition extend sufliciently inward to underlie and receive the ends ofa definite number (in the present instructure.'

stance, three) of close-lying leading packages on the conveyer adj acentthe curved end of the table. The sleeve 44 is provided with a'crank arm47 which is connected by means of a link 48 with the longer arm 49 of alever fulcrumed on a cross-shaft 50 that is fixed in suitably-locatedbrackets 51 on the frame The other arm 52 of the lever carries a roll 53in contact with a suitable cam 54 on a cross-shaft 55 having itsbearings in brackets 56 on the frame structure. This shaft 55 hasfast^thereon a sprocket 57 which is connected by means of a chain 58with a sprocket 59 on the driven shaft 28. The roll 53 is maintainedyieldably in contact with the cam 54 by means of a spring 60 whichconnects the longer lever arm 49 with asuitably-disposed fixture 61, andthe cam is automatically fixed to and 'released at intervals from theshaft 55 by means under the control of the advancing packages on theconveyer as will be hereinafter described.

The contour of the cam 54 is such that when it is secured to and rotatedby the shaft 55 the lever arm 49 is alternately raised and lowered bythe co-action of the cam and the spring 60, thereby effecting throughthe crank and link connections 47, 48 the upward and downward swingingof the lifter arms 43 through an arc of 90. These arms in their upwardtravel raise the three opposing packages along the curved portion 17 ofthe ltable y, and by vlrtue of the partial turning of the packages asthey bear upon and slide v.along table. When such packages are thusarranged on the table the lifter arms 43 are immediately swung downwardto their previous position below the path of the next succeeding seriesof packages borne by the conveyer, preparatory to another stackingoperation, and so on. As each stack of packages is delivered to thetable the preceding stack or Istacks are successively advanced along thetable, thus ensuring a row of close-lying uniformly stacked packagesfrom which predetermined numbers of stacks can be readily removed forwrapping or other purposes.

The preferred means for automatically clutching and releasing the cam 54on the shaft 55 is as follows: The cam has a hub 62 formed with endheads 63, 64, which hub is loosely mounted on the shaft 55 between the ysprocket 57 and a collar 65 fast on the shaft. The end heads 63, 64 arefaced with friction material 66 in contact with disks 68, 69 on theopposing faces-of the sprocket hub and the collar. The disk 69 is faston the collar, and the disk 68 is slidably secured to the sprocket hubby pins 690. The disk 68 is pressed' The cam 54`when the lifter arms arein i down or horizontal position is restrained against rotation with theshaft 55 by means of a depending dog 71 in engagement with a Vtooth orshoulder 72 on the end head 63'of` the cam hub, which dog isconveniently pivoted on a suitably-disposed bracket 74. The dog ispivotally connected, as at 75,'with the core of a solenoid 76, the coilof which latter is included in an electric circuit 77 which maybealternately made and broken by a suitable switch 78 under the control ofthe predetermined leading packages on the con- `veyer.

p In the present instance a mercury switch is employed, which switch iscarried by supporting brackets 79 carried by one of two spacedupstanding arms 83, eachof which is adjustably secured by meansof ascrew 8O to a rock-shaft 81 having its bearings in brackets 82 on theframe str ucture directly below the ypath ofthe leading packages on theconveyer. The upper ends of these arms project above the respectivesides of the upleadingopackage as it approaches the table. One of thearms 83 is provided with a crankarm 84 from which are suspendedadjustable weights 85 which tend to swing the arms forwardly `of thetable and with their upperends in the'l path of the leading package.These weights .are so adjusted that there mus/,t

push back the arms 83 against the force of the counterweights. In thepresent instance three or more packages are required for this purpose.When the leading three packages are located above the lifter arms 43 the4,switch control arms 83 are swung to their backward liniit,.in whichcase the mercuryelement of the switch connects the terminals asindicated in Fig. 9 and completes the electric circuit 77, thus thesolenoid is energized and the retraction of its core is effected. rIhisretracts the pendant dog 71 from the tooth of the'head 63 on the camhub, thus releasing the cam 54 and ensuring its rotation concurrentlywith the shaft 55.

In order to prevent the advancement of the succeeding packages on thecontinuously moving conveyer 18, during the rise and fall of the lifterarms 43, suitable stop means operatin'g in timed relation to the arms 43is provided, as ollows:

86 designates a pair of horizontally-disposed arms arranged at therespective sides of the conveyer and secured at their 'forward ends to arock-shaft 87 havingits bearings in brackets 88 on thesupporting'structure..

The rear or free ends lof these arms 8 6 are yieldingly held in raisedposition by means or a spring 89 one end of which is'secured to adepending arm 90 on the shaft 87, and the other end is secured to thebridge bracket 24 supporting the longitudinal bed 23. The

ends of the arms 86 are formed with lateral projections 92 whichunderlie the free ends i of the lifter arms 43 and are depressed by thelatter against the action of the spring 89 when the lifter arms are indown or package receiving position. Thev projections 92 have securedthereto upstanding stop members 93 which, when the arms 86 aredepressed, lie below the path of the packages borne by the conveyer,butgon the initial upward movement of the lifter arms the. arms 86 moveslightly upward to project the stop members into the path of theopposing progressing packages, thus temporarily preventing theadvancement of the latter, as previously mentioned. The stop members 93are maintained in raised or active position until the succeeding descentof the lifter arms, whereupon such members are again depressed belowthepath of the packages on the carrier'to enable another series toadvance upon thelifterarms, and so on. The free ends of the arms 86 havesecured thereto upstanding side plates 94 which,.'abutti ng against theunder sides of the opposing guide rails 33, limit the upward movement ofthe arms 86. Y

My invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form ofembodiment herein disclosed, as the construction may' be modified withinthe principle of the invention an the scope of the appendedclaims.

' I clalm- 1. In combination with a package support, l

means on a lower level for advancing a succession of packages towardsaid support, litter arms which normally underlie the path of a leadingseries of packages, means including a cam for actuating said lifter armsto raise ,the opposing packages and positionthem in stacked relation onthe support,- an intermittently-acting stop device for said cam, ankelectric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controllingthe' stopV device and a switch for making and breaking'the circuit, andmeans extending into the path ofv the leading advancing package 'forcontrolling the operation lof the switch.

2.. In combination with a vpackage support. means on -a lower level foradvancing a suecession of packages toward said support.` lifter armswhich normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages, meansincluding a cam for actuating said lifter arms tov raise the opposingpackages and position them'in stacked relation on the support, anintermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an

electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controllingthe stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, andmeans for controlling the operation of the switch including rocker-armswhich extend intothe path of the leading advancing package. y

3. In combination with a package support. means on a lowerlevel foradvancing a succession of packages toward said support, lift'- er armswhich normally underlie the path of a leading series of packages, meansincluding a cam for actuating said lifter arms to raise the opposingpackages and position them in stacked relation on the support, anintermittently-acting stop device for said cam, an electric circ-uit inwhich are included an elcctro- 4. In combination with a packagesupportcomprising a table having a downwardly `curved receiving portion,a conveyer `on a lower level for advancing a succession of packagestoward said receiving portion, oscil` latory lifter arms whiohnormallyunderlie the path of a leading series of packages adjallO cent saidreceiving portion and are operative to move such seriesvv along thereceiving portion and position them in 'stacked relation on the table,means including a `rotary cam for actuating said lifter arms, anintermittentlyacting stop device for said cam, an electric circuit inwhich are included an electro-magnet for controlling the stop device anda switch for making and breaking the circuit, and means extending intothe path Vof the leading advancing package on the conveyer forcontrolling the operation of thc switch.

5. In combination with a package support comprisingratable having adownwardly curved receiving portion, a conveyer on a lower level foradvancing Va succession of packages toward said receiving portion,oscillatory' lifter arms which normally underlie the path of a leadingseries of packages adj acent said receiving portion and position them instacked 'relation on the table, means including a rotary cam foractuating said lifter arms, an intermittently-acting stop device forsaid cam, an' electric circuit in which arc ineluded an electro-magnetfor controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking thecircuit, and means for controlling the operation of the switch includingrocker-arms which extend into the path of the leading advancingpackage.

6. In combination with a package support comprising a' table having adownwardly curved receiving portion, a conveyer on a lower level foradvancing a succession of packages toward said receiving portion,oscillatory lifter arms which normallyunderlie the path of a leadingseries of packages adjacent said receiving portion and positionthem instacked relation on lthe table, means including a rotary cam foractuating said lifter arms, an intermittently-acting stop device forsaid cam, an electric circuit in which are included an electro-magnetfor controlling the stop device and a switch for making and breaking thecircuit, means for controlling the operation of the switch includingrockerarms which extend into the path of the leading advancing package,and an adjustable countcrpoise for said switch and rocker-arms. 9

7. In combination with a package support comprising av table having a.downwardly curved receiving portion, a conveyer on' a lower level for'advancing'a succession of packages toward said receiving portion,oscillatory lifter'arms which normally underlie the path of a leadingseries of packages adjacent -said receiving portion and position them instacked relation on the table, means lincluding a rotary cam foractuating saidlifter arms, an intermittently-acting stop device for saidcam, an electric circuit in which areincluded an electro-magnet forcontrolling the stop device an-d a switch for making and breaking thecircuit, meansfor controlling the operation of the switch includingrocker-arms which extend into the path of the leading advancing package,an adjustable counterpoise for saidswitch and rocker-arms, and

stop means for the'advancing packages on the conveyer includinglvibratory arms extending into'the path of the lifter arms.

8. In combination with a package support,

means for advancing a succession of packages' toward said support,transfer means normally adjacent the path of a leading series ofpackages, means including a cam for actuating said transfer means totransfen the opposing packages to the support, an'intermittently-actingstop device for said cam, an electric circuit in which are included anelectro-magnetfor controlling the stop device and a switch for makingand breaking the circuit, and means extending into the path of theleading advancing package for c ontrolling'the operation of the switch.

9. In combination with a package support, meansfor advancing asuccession of packages toward said support, transfer means normallyadjacent the path-of a leading series of packages, means-"including acam for actuating said transfer means to transfer the'opposing packagesto the support, an' intermittentlyacting ,stop device for said cam, anelectric circuit in which are included an electro-magnet for controllingthe stop device and a switch for making and breaking the circuit, meansextending into the path of the leading advancing package forcontrollingthe operation of the switch, and means forarresting the advancingpackages rearward of the transfer means during each operation of saidtransfer means.

10. In' combination' witli'a package support, means for advancing asuccession of vpackages toward said support, transfer meansnormallyadjacent the path of aleadmeans in timed relation lto the travelof the advancing packages, said electrically-controlled means includingan electric circuit having a switch formaking and breaking said circuit,and a rocker arm carrying said switch and extending into the path oftheleading advancing package.

11. Inv combination with a package support, means for advancing asuccession of packages toward said support, transfer means normallyadjacent the path of a leading series of packages, andelectrically-controlledmeans for operating said transfer means in timedrelation to the travel of the advancing packages, saidelectrically-controlled means inclu-ding an electric circuit having aswitch for making and breaking said circuit, a rocker arm carrying saidswitch and extending into the path of the leading advancing package. andan "adjustable counterpoise for said 'rocker arm and switch.

Signed at Barberton in the county of Summit and State of Ohio this 18thday of August A. D. '1931. i

CHARLES WRIGHT.

